Changeable checker pieces



Jan. 31, 1956 a. J. ELANDER 2,733,063

CHANGEABLE CHECKER PIECES Filed Feb. 27, 1953 /4 INVENTOR.

// Barman JE/czzzaer;

United States Patent CHANGEABLE CHECKER PIECES Burman J. Elander, San Diego, Calif.; Bernice Clark Elander, executrix of said Burman J. Elander, deceased Application February 27, 1953, Serial No. 339,315

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-137) This invention relates to game pieces, and more particularly to an improvement in checkers.

The main object of the invention is to 'provide a novel and improved checker which may be employed either as an ordinary piece or as a king piece, the improved checker being simple in construction, being compact in size, and being easy to manipulate to change it from an ordinary checker to a king checker.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combination checker which may be employed either as an ordinary checker or as a king checker, the improved piece being inexpensive to construct, being rugged and durable, and being self-locking in either one of its two different positions.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an improved game piece constructed in accordance with the present invention, said game piece being shown arranged as a king checker.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the game piece on the line 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the game piece of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the game piece of Figures 1, 2 and 3 arranged as an ordinary checker.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pusher implement employed for manipulating the game pieces.

Referring to the drawings, the improved checker is designated generally at 11 and comprises a substantially cylindrical main body 13 having a flat bottom surface 14, the body being formed with a substantially hemispherical cavity 15 at its upper portion. Designated at 16 is a cover disc which is rotatably mounted in the upper portion of the body 13, said disc being pivoted at diametrically opposite edge portions thereof to the rim of the body 13, as by the respective radial pivot pins 17 and 18. The pivot pin 18 is secured rigidly in the edge portion of the disc 16 and extends rotatably through the rim of the body 13, the end of the pin 18 being formed with a right-angled handle arm 19 for manually rotating the disc 16. The opposite pivot pin 17 is rigidly secured in the edge portion of disc 16 and is rotatably mounted in a suitable bore provided in the rim of the body 13, whereby the disc 16 may be readily rotated from the position thereof shown in Figure l to the position thereof shown in Figure 4, and vice versa.

The cover disc 16 is provided on one surface thereof witha raised figure 20 simulating the head of a king, as is clearly illustrated in Figure l, the opposite major surface of the cover disc being smooth and being preferably slightly convex, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The convex opposite face of the cover disc 16 is designated by the reference numeral 21 in Figures 2 and 4.

The rim of the cavity 15 is provided at diametrically 2,733,068 Patented Jan. 31, 1956 opposite points thereon, preferably on a diameter at right angles to the diameter of the pivot pins 17 and 18, with the spring locking detents 22, 22 which are receivable in suitable recesses formed in the peripheral edge of the disc member 16 to releasably secure said disc member in a horizontal position overlying the cavity 15. The disc member 16 may, however, be readily rotated from one position thereof, such as the position shown in Figure 1 to an opposite position thereof, such as the position thereof shown in Figure 4, by exerting manual torque on the handle 19, the torque being sufiicient to overcome the resistance of the spring detents 22, 22.

The smooth disc surface 21 is provided at the center thereof with an eye member 24 whereby the game piece may be lifted, as by the implement shown generally at 25 in Figure 5, when desired. It will be understood that the game pieces may be of substantial size, as where the game is to be played on a floor, and to facilitate the movement of the game pieces the implement 25 is provided, said implement being formed with a semicircular rod portion 26 secured to the end of a handle 27, the rod portion 26 being adapted to engage around the cylindrical body 13 of a game piece whereby the piece may be pushed along the floor. The rod member 26 is formed at its end with a hook 28 which may be engaged with the eye element 24'0f a game piece, whereby the game piece may be lifted, if so desired.

In a typical arrangement, the game board was painted on the floor and comprises checker squares having sides of approximately six inches, the game pieces being approximately four inches in diameter. Obviously, the combination game piece of the present invention is less bulky and would be more suitable for use in a game arrangement having the above dimensions than the conventional checker arrangement wherein the kings are formed by placing one checker on top of another.

As illustrated, an eye member 24 may be provided on the top central portion of the raised figure 20 as well as on the central portion of the convex surface 21, whereby the game piece may be lifted by means of implement 25 when the disc 16 is in either one of its selected horizontal positions.

While a specific embodiment of an improved game piece for use in the game of checkers has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A movable game piece for the game of checkers comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical member having opposed open and closed ends of which said closed end serves as a base for sliding engagement with the playing surface of said game, a closure member for said open end of said cylindrical member comprising a generally circular body, means for rotatably mounting said body on said cylindrical member adjacent the upper end thereof, said means comprising a pair of diametrically disposed pivot pins of which one of said pins includes a manually manipulated lever arm, detent means carried by said cylindrical member adjacent the upper end thereof and positioned on a diameter at right angles to the axes of said pins, said detent means co-acting with said body to prevent inadvertent rotation thereof, and said body having indicia of different playing significance on the obverse and reverse sides thereof.

2. A movable game piece for the game of checkers comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical member having opposed open and closed ends of which said closed end serves as a base for sliding engagement with the playing surface of said game, a closure member for said open end of said cylindrical member comprising a generally circular body, means for rotatably mounting said body on said cylindrical member adjacent the upper end thereof, said means comprising a pair of diametrically disposed pivot pins of which one of said pins includes a manually manipulated lever arm, detent means carried by said cylindrical member adjacent the upper end thereof and positioned on a diameter at right angles to the axes of said pins, said detent means co-acting with said body to prevent inadvertent rotation thereof, said body having indicia of dilferent playing significance on the obverse and reverse sides thereof, and means sub stantially centrally positioned on said obverse and re- 5 7 verse sides of said body adapted for cooperation with a manually operated lever to shift said piece from one position to another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,487 Powell Nov. 26, 1901 747,726 Karhan Dec. 22, 1903 902,512 V/allstein Oct. 27, 1908 1,087,797 Lowe Feb. 17, 1914 1,450,148 Erkenswick Mar. 27, 1923 1,993,417 Smith Mar. 5, 1935 2,199,008 Oshei Apr. 30, 1940 2,420,482 Janik May 13, 1947 

